Device for freezing and dispensing ice cubes



Oct. 6, 1953 R w, TEMPLAR 2,654,228

DEVICE FOR FREEZING AND DISPENSING ICE CUBES Filed Dec. 5. 1951 w 1 v N l \E r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F ig.2

& k A a Robert W. Templar Oct. 6, 1953 w, TEMPLAR 2,654,228

DEVICE FOR FREEZING AND DISPENSING ICE CUBES Filed Dec. 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 if a 0 0 0 0 '0 0 00 0 s, o s s E Q & N 0 :i & o a ll 0 o I 1 Z I 0 O I o O I, 1 Z l j 2 9 o \O o I o I Q o o N o H O "3 I; I M v :5 w .2 I, I: n

u e vg n v 94 "a a II o Z 0/ I O Q I o m a I 1&1 i; o L; 5 I an 9 c a i Q 00 [I l l I! v II M HI Robert W. Templar INVENTOR. l

ll BY If M s 4* e tests teetrer-,

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 nsWeEroiygRa-nzmqnhp pI'sPENs' -NG' F res CUBES Hebert W Templa t memento! al/I 3 ap urtenanc s-laser 3, 195g, setifl'rztigssgfit Thiasinventianrelates and usefui ime movements inrefrigerating? apparatus. and thc obj est, 7 of the present-w inventian is: to mQvide a device for freezing -iceito' multiple cube arm and thensequentially ejecting the cubes int-tea centainerw Another important object. of thepresent: invene tion is to; provide *a "device 'for makingand". dis: musing ice cubes involving a trayand-arr endless conveyor having-: a; horizontally movable finger suppgrting-portion that travels through the tray after ice cubes have ben'formed to forcibly eject A er ebisct of. the present inven is to provide an ice cube formerwhereinthe fingers of the'IcQnVeyQr function asseparators between which the cubes are formed.

A still furtheraim of theiprese'rlt invention is to; provide adeviceof theraforeme'ntiofid character that is simple and practical' in construction,

strong and-reliable inuse, neat and attractive in appearance," efficient and durable in operatien, convenientto install, seW-i'ce -and repair, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwisewell adapted for'rthe purpose forwhich the samh is i-ritended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de tails Inf-construction and-operation as morefuli y hereinafterdescribedand-claimedfreferences being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a cabinet or refrigerator and showin the present invention mounted therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 10 represents an elongated horizontally supported tray or trough having an upwardly and forwardly curved end I2. The tray is constructed of metal to rigidly conduct heat.

Tray H! is supported within a refrigerator or the like l4 having the usual refrigerator coils or tubes l6 that are disposed sufficiently close to the tray to freeze a liquid, such as water, in the tray.

A pair of spaced parallel, suitably connected,

walls l8 are mounted in therefr-igerator saith} tray is. disposed betweenthe lawer. portions? of these wa'll's; Forward"and=rear horizontal shafts, Hand-22 are 'rotatably supportediby bearingsand extend" between the walls t8"and carry sprocirets tlrand 2.8, respectively; whicharelocated between the walls I81" 5 a l a The forward ends of walls I & project forwardly from the end 12 of tray Ill and rotatablyssupe port'a horizontallydisposed' drive'shaft 18- carryinga sprocket 30 that is "located above" the sprcckets14'. and'ZB'; and above ami in' front: of the end [2. An' endlesscenveyor 'or sprocket chain 32' extends about the sprockets 2-4," ZB and 30. lhe conveyor 32 supports a plurality-of plates-'34. u I

The conveyor 3;2-;isprovided 'with :a herizen tally disposed lower ;ght 36 that extends l'o'ns gitiidinall-yof tlif tray'ar d which ov' s'tlie' tray. The'fingets carri'edby' the lewe flight depend into the tray to permit thejorniatieri' or ice cubes between' adjacent fingers of-" this hen:

g-itudinally spaced rigid" fingers or" separator zo r-italportion 36 .1

In 1 practical use of the I present invention; the refrigertor provided" with a suitable: liquid disperisr 38wh9se inlet will be-'th 'maiii wat'ersup ply-line and whose d-is'cliar'gehenduit 4 0- is lecatei ever-"the rear end efthe'tray H3 te'suppiy wati or the like to the tray and permit a constant level of liquid in the tray.

The shaft 28 is operatively connected through reduction gearing in casings 42, to an electric motor 44 whose operation is controlled by an electric timer 46 of suitable type. The timer 46 may also be electrically connected to the refrigeration system of the refrigerator to complete a current to motor 44 during or slightly after defrosting of the refrigerator or freezing unit.

The ice cube separators remain stationary during the freezing cycle of the refrigerator with th separators on the lower flight 35 disposed within the tray. When the cubes are frozen the condensing unit (not shown) of the refrigerator or the freezing cycle stops and defrosting takes place causing actuation of the power means 44. As the means 44 operates flight 36 will move toward end l2 to forcibly eject the cubes from end I2 and into a container 48 therebeneath.

The sprockets will rotate sufficiently to move out beyond the end I 2 of tray ID the required number of ice cubes which in turn gravitate into container 48. At this time the refrigeration cycle repeats and additional water is dispensed into the tray with the motor 44 at rest.

Obviously, movement of the conveyor may be regulated by other means than that described and may be manually accomplished in a low price unit. Also, the tray may be filled all at once or gradually depending upon many factors, such as the size of tray, capacity of the tray or refrigerator, etc.

Although the drawings show a single tray or trough any suitable number may be employed. Possibly 2 sets of trays each consisting of or containing 1, 2, 3 or more either stationary or movable partitions so as to form 1, 2, 3 or more ice cubes abreast at one time, will be used. Then while these are defrosting another set of equal or like capacity could be forming.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary;

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 152 e 1. An apparatus for freezing and dispensing ice cubes comprising a stationary horizontally disposed tray adapted to receive a freezable liquid, cooling means adjacent the tray for freezing the liquid therein, an endless conveyor having a lower flight overlying the tray, longitudinally spaced fingers carried by the conveyor, the fingers on the lower flight of said conveyor depending into said tray, whereby ice formed between adjacent fingers on said lower flight will be urged from the tray during rotation of said conveyor, and a timer mechanism operatively connected to said conveyor and the cooling means for moving the conveyor after defrosting of the cooling means.

2. For use with a horizontally supported tray having an upwardly curved end and a refrigeration system including refrigerated coils disposed adjacent the tray for freezing a liquid in the tray, an endless conveyor supported for rotation above the tray and having a lower horizontal flight paralleling the tray and movable toward the said curved end of the tray, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced fingers carried by the conveyor, the fingers on the lower flight of said conveyor depending therefrom and being disposed in said tray to form separators between which ice cubes will be formed, and a timer mechanism operatively connected to the conveyor and to the refrigeration system for moving the conveyor after defrosting of the refrigeration system.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said conveyor includes supporting sprockets, one of said sprockets being disposed above the other sprockets and above and in front of said curved end.

4. An apparatus for freezing and dispensing ice cubes comprising a tray having an upwardly curved end, means for periodically supplying a liquid into the tray, refrigeration means adjacent the tray for freezing a liquid in the tray, and timer actuated means operatively connected with said refrigeration means for ejecting ice cubes from the curved end of the tray after deactivation of said refrigeration means, said ejecting means including an endless conveyor disposed above the tray and having a lower flight overlying the tray and movable longitudinally toward said curved end, and fingers carried by the conveyor, the fingers on the lower flight of said conveyor being disposed in said tray.

ROBERT W. 'IENIPLAR.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France May 2, 1952 Number Number 

